BMW says 120 vehicles damaged in S.C. train derailment

About 120 BMW X models were damaged when train cars carrying the vehicles derailed on Sunday afternoon en route to the Port of Charleston, S.C., for export to overseas markets.

BMW said damaged models include the BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 but did not specify how many of each model was damaged. The vehicles were heading to Charleston from BMW’s plant near Spartanburg, S.C., which exports about 70 percent of all X models manufactured at the plant.

“BMW personnel are traveling to the scene and will assess the damage to these 120 BMWs. We will continue to work with Norfolk Southern in this situation to assess the damages,” BMW said in an emailed statement.

The derailment occurred in Blair, S.C., and included two Norfolk Southern locomotives and 12 rail cars. Each rail car holds 10 vehicles. Norfolk Southern said in a statement that the tracks were damaged by the derailment and are being repaired but the company is still investigating how the derailment happened.

Norfolk Southern added that the two train crew members were not injured.